Review: THE BIRDS AND THE BEES at Ottawa Little Theatre
The Birds and the Bees takes flight just in time for Spring!
Photo by Maria Vartanova.
Mark Crawford’s quintessentially Canadian comedy takes place in rural Southwestern Ontario. Gail (Kim Strauss) is a beekeeper, who has suffered drastic losses in her hive over the last couple of years. Her daughter, Sarah (Sarah Aaron) a turkey farmer, has unexpectedly returned home after separating from her spouse. Armed with an air mattress from Canadian Tire, Sarah reluctantly explains her martial situation to her mother, despite never really having a full disclosure kind of mother-daughter relationship. Gail is no stranger to marital woes herself, having been divorced nearly two decades. Meanwhile, Gail’s neighbour, Earl (Ian Stauffer), has been renting land from Gail in order to cultivate his crops; however, Gail accuses him of using pesticides that contribute to the death of her bee colony. In fact, to help get to the bottom of it, Gail is participating in a university study undertaken by a budding, if not slightly awkward, etymologist, Ben (Steven Dworkin). As Sarah navigates being newly single, Gail takes a long hard look at her own state of happiness as both make decisions that will unwittingly change the course of their lives.
My expectations are always high when it comes to set design at OLT, and this set (Ian Ferguson) really delivers. Designed to be the second floor of Gail’s house, the stage is split evenly into two bedrooms, with a bathroom door, closet, and upstairs hallway to give the impression of additional living space. The furnishings are cozy; the type you would expect from a rural Canadian home. Costumes (Isabella Rumfeldt) are intended to be contemporary but give off a bit of a 90s vibe; however, this doesn’t take away from the story, as it could just as easily be set in a different modern era.
Photo by Maria Vartanova.
Cast performances are what makes this production shine. Each actor has been well selected to play their role and they have fantastic rapport, which is essential in a family-centric script. Barbara Kobolak's direction provides highly effective comedic timing. Crawford’s script is genuinely funny, with more than a few laugh-out-loud moments, despite it feeling slightly preachy towards the end. This is the type of show where you may read the synopsis and think, “Hmm, I’m not so sure about this one”, but please take my advice and give it a chance. It is a heartwarming story, but the laughs alone make it worth the admission. The Birds and the Bees is a piece of escapism that is precisely the sort of show that you need every now and then to reset. And what better timing than Spring for that?
This is the type of show where you may read the synopsis and think, “Hmm, I’m not so sure about this one”, but please take my advice and give it a chance. The bond that slowly builds between Gail and Sarah is heartwarming to see. Spring brings with it a sense of renewal and optimism that perfectly aligns with the message in The Birds and the Bees, making it the ideal time to enjoy this play.
The Birds and the Bees is on stage at Ottawa Little Theatre through May 23, 2026. Click the link below to get tickets or click here for more information.
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